Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 47.40
Liaison Morgan Hartman
Submission Date Feb. 26, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

University of Nebraska - Lincoln
OP-25: Hazardous Waste Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Brenda Osthus
EHS Director
Environmental Health and Safety
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have strategies in place to safely dispose of all hazardous, special (e.g. coal ash), universal, and non-regulated chemical waste and seek to minimize the presence of these materials on campus?:
Yes

A brief description of steps taken to reduce hazardous, special (e.g. coal ash), universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:

A number of Safe Operating Procedures regarding waste management can be found on the EHS web site at http://ehs.unl.edu/sop under the heading of "Waste Management."


A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:

UNL has a program in place to safely dispose of all hazardous, special, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste and seeks to minimize the presence of these materials on campus. The Department of Environmental Health and Safety routinely conducts campus wide evaluations of waste generating activities and counsels waste generators on waste reduction strategies. Purchasing controls have been implemented to facilitate just-in-time delivery of chemicals to avoid the need for over-purchasing. EHS publishes guidance on purchasing the smallest feasible quantities and safe storage practices to avoid unnecessary waste production. All chemical wastes are managed through the EHS Department, which is then responsible to ensure safe off-site treatment and disposal at permitted and reputable waste treatment facilities. Treatment technologies that favor energy recovery and recycling are favored.


A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:

There have not been any significant hazardous material releases in the past three years.


A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:

Encourages chemical redistribution as part of the laboratory decommissioning process, and attempts to redistribute feasible quantities of unused chemicals rather than disposing of them as waste.


Does the institution have or participate in a program to responsibly recycle, reuse, and/or refurbish all electronic waste generated by the institution?:
Yes

Does the institution have or participate in a program to responsibly recycle, reuse, and/or refurbish electronic waste generated by students?:
Yes

A brief description of the electronic waste recycling program(s):

UNL has a program in place to recycle, reuse, and/or refurbish all unwanted electronic and computer equipments. All electronic items are first offered for redistribution through the UNL Inventory Department. Those items that are not redistributed are then offered at public auction. Items that are not sold at public auction are sent for refurbishment via Apple's Recycling program.


A brief description of steps taken to ensure that e-waste is recycled responsibly, workers’ basic safety is protected, and environmental standards are met:

UNL operates a yearly electronics waste collection program during residence hall move-out each spring. This collection is available to all students. The UNL Computer and Phone Shop also collects cell phones throughout the year. Several community outlets are readily available as well.


The website URL where information about the institution’s hazardous and electronic-waste recycling programs is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
---

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.